MONTICELLO IMPLEMENT & TRUCK CO.
Monticello, Iowa
Years of Operation: 1945 - 1991
Years of Operation: 1945 - 1991
The new dealership showroom in 1952.
Alfred Egger and Edward Cox teamed up to start Monticello Implement & Truck Co. on March 1, 1945. They bought out Joe Messerli in August of 1944 who was the Oliver dealer located at 120 North Sycamore in Monticello. Cox and Egger first met in 1928 when Cox assisted Egger in putting out a house fire at Egger's farm. This began a lifelong friendship and eventual business partnership. When they began, one of their first employees was Jerry Conrad as motor mechanic. Jerry had previously worked for the Oliver dealer in Cedar Rapids. In addition to the Oliver farm machinery line, they handled GMC trucks, New Idea equipment, Kewanee elevators and Gehl. In January 1946, they added the Massey-Harris farm equipment line to the dealership. In 1947, the dealership staff included: Cox served as the general manager and buyer, Egger was in charge of sales and service, Leslie Linn was parts man and sales, Byron Abel was bookkeeper, and mechanics Robert Hasler, C.B. Carson, Norman Lund, Henry Broderson. The shop could handle up to four major overhauls per week!
Eventually, the business needed a larger, more modern building. A new 9,000 square foot building was constructed at 509 E. Oak Street and a grand opening event was held on February 12, 1952. In the 1950's, they added New Holland and became a dealer for US Royal farm tires. In January of 1957, they expanded again by opening a branch store in Central City, Iowa. Al and his son Ron Egger operated the new branch location. In 1959, Monticello Implement purchased the former Tauke Implement in Manchester, Iowa. The original plan was to call it Cox and Egger Implement and have Al run the new location. At this time, the branch store in Central City was closed and consolidated with Manchester. Instead, on January 1, 1960, Egger left the partnership of Monticello Implement and started Egger Implement in Manchester with his son Ron. Al sold his Manchester dealership and retired in 1968. Ron later returned to Monticello Implement as the parts manager.
Monticello Implement earned the Oliver President's Honor Council Award for 1964. Ed and his wife received the award from Oliver at the conference in Los Angeles. Ed's son Merle was a mechanic at the dealership after returning from serving in the US Air Force in 1967. Merle left the dealership for a while in 1970's, but returned in 1984 as a salesman and shop manager. Ed semi-retired following Merle's return in 1985 and fully retired in 1989 with Merle becoming the owner. When Merle bought the business from this father, he changed to name to Cox Implement & Tractor. Unfortunately, the 1980's and early 1990's were not a good time for farm economy in Iowa leading to the end for this former Oliver dealership. After 46 years in business, Cox Implement held a closeout auction on September 19, 1991.
Eventually, the business needed a larger, more modern building. A new 9,000 square foot building was constructed at 509 E. Oak Street and a grand opening event was held on February 12, 1952. In the 1950's, they added New Holland and became a dealer for US Royal farm tires. In January of 1957, they expanded again by opening a branch store in Central City, Iowa. Al and his son Ron Egger operated the new branch location. In 1959, Monticello Implement purchased the former Tauke Implement in Manchester, Iowa. The original plan was to call it Cox and Egger Implement and have Al run the new location. At this time, the branch store in Central City was closed and consolidated with Manchester. Instead, on January 1, 1960, Egger left the partnership of Monticello Implement and started Egger Implement in Manchester with his son Ron. Al sold his Manchester dealership and retired in 1968. Ron later returned to Monticello Implement as the parts manager.
Monticello Implement earned the Oliver President's Honor Council Award for 1964. Ed and his wife received the award from Oliver at the conference in Los Angeles. Ed's son Merle was a mechanic at the dealership after returning from serving in the US Air Force in 1967. Merle left the dealership for a while in 1970's, but returned in 1984 as a salesman and shop manager. Ed semi-retired following Merle's return in 1985 and fully retired in 1989 with Merle becoming the owner. When Merle bought the business from this father, he changed to name to Cox Implement & Tractor. Unfortunately, the 1980's and early 1990's were not a good time for farm economy in Iowa leading to the end for this former Oliver dealership. After 46 years in business, Cox Implement held a closeout auction on September 19, 1991.
Monticello Implement shown in 1975 for their 30th anniversary celebration.
Owners of Monticello Implement shown in 1952.
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dealership ads over the years
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From a 1952 newspaper photo, the Zumbach familly were good customers of Oliver equipment at Monticello Implement.
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Dealership Building
The new Monticello Implement dealership at 509 E. Oak Street before the grand opening in 1952.
The former Monticello Implement building shown in 2024 as a Pizza Ranch. Unfortunately, this location has closed as of February 2025.